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Life expectancy can increase by up to 10 years following sustained shifts towards healthier diets in the United Kingdom.
Fadnes, LT, Celis-Morales, C, Økland, JM, Parra-Soto, S, Livingstone, KM, Ho, FK, Pell, JP, Balakrishna, R, Javadi Arjmand, E, Johansson, KA, et al
Nature food. 2023;4(11):961-965
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Plain language summary
The mortality rate is rising in the United Kingdom (UK) due to the poor quality dietary patterns among the general population. Public Health England and the UK government recommend the population eat a healthy balanced diet based on the Eatwell Guide. Adherence to the Eatwell Guide dietary pattern could reduce the mortality rate among the general population in the UK. This research estimated the benefits of sustainably changing the unhealthy dietary pattern to the Eatwell Guide or longevity-associated dietary pattern on life expectancy in the UK. Longevity-associated dietary pattern is based on a moderate consumption of whole grains, fruit, fish and white meat; a substantial consumption of dairy, vegetables, nuts and legumes; a comparatively low consumption of eggs, red meat and sugar-sweetened beverages; and a low consumption of refined grains and processed meat. The unhealthy dietary pattern included limited amounts of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, fish, milk and dairy, and white meat and high consumption of processed meat, eggs, refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages. This peer-reviewed review used prospective population-based cohort data from the UK Biobank. In UK adults aged 40 years, the change from an unhealthy dietary pattern to the Eatwell guide added 8.9 years in males and 8.6 years in females to their life expectancy. Furthermore, sustained adherence to the Eatwell guide increased life expectancy up to 10.8 years in males and 10.4 years in females. Further robust studies are required to evaluate the correlation between life expectancy and different food groups due to the limitations of the current research. However, healthcare professionals can use the results of this research to develop health policies and to understand the beneficial effect of following the Eatwell Guide or longevity dietary pattern in increasing life expectancy in middle-aged men and women in the UK.
Abstract
Adherence to healthy dietary patterns can prevent the development of non-communicable diseases and affect life expectancy. Here, using a prospective population-based cohort data from the UK Biobank, we show that sustained dietary change from unhealthy dietary patterns to the Eatwell Guide dietary recommendations is associated with 8.9 and 8.6 years gain in life expectancy for 40-year-old males and females, respectively. In the same population, sustained dietary change from unhealthy to longevity-associated dietary patterns is associated with 10.8 and 10.4 years gain in life expectancy in males and females, respectively. The largest gains are obtained from consuming more whole grains, nuts and fruits and less sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats. Understanding the contribution of sustained dietary changes to life expectancy can provide guidance for the development of health policies.
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An updated systematic review and meta-analysis on adherence to mediterranean diet and risk of cancer.
Morze, J, Danielewicz, A, Przybyłowicz, K, Zeng, H, Hoffmann, G, Schwingshackl, L
European journal of nutrition. 2021;60(3):1561-1586
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The development of cancer is associated with a number of risk factors, including smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, alcohol consumption, infections, pollution, and dietary imbalances. Based on previous research, optimal consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with reduced consumption of red and processed meat, reduces cancer risk. According to this systematic review and meta-analysis, adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower cancer mortality and site-specific cancer development. A Mediterranean diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, and low amounts of red meat, processed meat, egg, and dairy, along with moderate amounts of red wine. According to this systematic review and meta-analysis, adherence to the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of cancer mortality and the risk of developing cancers specific to the site, such as colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, gastric cancer, and lung cancer. Among the components of the Mediterranean diet, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have been shown to reduce cancer risk. Bioactive substances found in Mediterranean diet components require additional robust studies to evaluate their benefits. A healthcare professional can use the results of this study to make clinical decisions and recommend therapeutic interventions to cancer patients.
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of current systematic review was to update the body of evidence on associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and risk of cancer mortality, site-specific cancer in the general population; all-cause, and cancer mortality as well as cancer reoccurrence among cancer survivors. METHODS A literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case-control and cohort studies published up to April 2020 was performed using PubMed and Scopus. Study-specific risk estimates for the highest versus lowest adherence to the MedDiet category were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Certainty of evidence from cohort studies and RCTs was evaluated using the NutriGrade scoring system. RESULTS The updated search revealed 44 studies not identified in the previous review. Altogether, 117 studies including 3,202,496 participants were enclosed for meta-analysis. The highest adherence to MedDiet was inversely associated with cancer mortality (RRcohort: 0.87, 95% CI 0.82, 0.92; N = 18 studies), all-cause mortality among cancer survivors (RRcohort: 0.75, 95% CI 0.66, 0.86; N = 8), breast (RRobservational: 0.94, 95% CI 0.90, 0.97; N = 23), colorectal (RRobservational: 0.83, 95% CI 0.76, 0.90; N = 17), head and neck (RRobservational: 0.56, 95% CI 0.44, 0.72; N = 9), respiratory (RRcohort: 0.84, 95% CI 0.76, 0.94; N = 5), gastric (RRobservational: 0.70, 95% CI 0.61, 0.80; N = 7), bladder (RRobservational: 0.87, 95% CI 0.76, 0.98; N = 4), and liver cancer (RRobservational: 0.64, 95% CI 0.54, 0.75; N = 4). Adhering to MedDiet did not modify risk of blood, esophageal, pancreatic and prostate cancer risk. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our results suggest that highest adherence to the MedDiet was related to lower risk of cancer mortality in the general population, and all-cause mortality among cancer survivors as well as colorectal, head and neck, respiratory, gastric, liver and bladder cancer risks. Moderate certainty of evidence from cohort studies suggest an inverse association for cancer mortality and colorectal cancer, but most of the comparisons were rated as low or very low certainty of evidence.